View full sizeCity of HillsboroA conceptual rendering of the 4,500 seat proposed stadium at Gordon Faber Recreation Complex in Hillsboro.

Baseball fans in the Portland metro area could see Hillsboro versus Milwaukie on a beautiful summer day in the not-too-distant future. What will they call the rivalry: the Suburb Shuffle?

"It could turn into a glorious rivalry between Eastside and Westside," predicts Drew Mahalic, CEO of Oregon Sports Authority.

On Tuesday, the Hillsboro City Council approved an offer sheet to owners of the Class-A Yakima Bears for a 20-year deal at a new stadium. Milwaukie, which had been pursuing the Bears, isn't calling it a game. City officials say they may still go after another team in the Northwest League.

It's been two years since the Triple-A Portland Beavers left town, making Portland the largest metro area in the country without professional baseball. Some longtime baseball supporters are troubled by the idea of replacing the Beavers with Class-A baseball, even with two teams.

"When you talk about minor league baseball I just laugh," Dr. Lynn Lashbrook said. "Where on earth are the leaders in Portland? It's unbelievable, it's shocking."

Lashbrook, president of Sports Management Worldwide Inc., doesn't question the ability of Class-A baseball to draw fans. But Lashbrook is bewildered at the small-time and short-term outlook of regional leaders.

Portland Mayor Sam Adams wrote a letter in support of the Milwaukie project last fall. "This is exciting and I wish both efforts well," Adams said, via email, of the dual efforts of Hillsboro and Milwaukie. But if Portland couldn't keep Triple-A baseball, how will the metro area support two Class-A teams?

Hillsboro stadium

When: Hopes to break ground by October 2013

What: 4,500 seat stadium at Gordon Faber Recreation Complex

Cost: $13.4-15.2 million in city issued bonds

Who: The Yakima Bears are expected to sign a 20-year lease

View full size

Hillsboro's offer sheet to Short Season LLC., which owns the Yakima Bears, must be accepted or rejected by June 29. The city also has approved $15.2 million in bonds to build a 4,500-seat stadium in time for opening day June 2013.

The team would pay $150,000 to the city to rent the facility, increasing 3 percent annually. The team would retain all revenue from ticket sales, aside from a $1 surcharge that goes to the city. All parking revenue would go to the city, with an estimated charge of $5 per vehicle.

Hillsboro would also take in 70 percent of any additional revenue generated from naming rights for the facility.

Meanwhile, Milwaukie continues to move forward in its vision of building a new stadium and wooing a team there for the 2014 season.

Northwest League president Bob Richmond told The Oregonian no other team is currently looking to relocate, but Milwaukie director of community development Kenny Asher said the city is in "serious negotiations" with the league.

Of Hillsboro, Asher simply said. “We look forward to playing them in 2014.”

Milwaukie plans to leverage the MAX line as a resource to drive fan attention, and Asher believes baseball would be more popular than the controversial MAX project.

"Baseball is baseball, people understand that it would be a community asset," he said "I can't say it would be unique at this point, but it would be a destination."

Milwaukie stadium

When: City hopes a team is in place by 2014 season

What: A 4,000 seat stadium in the city’s North industrial area along McLoughlin Blvd

Cost: From $20-$25 million, likely headed to voters to approve

Who: Unknown, Northwest League officials are non-commital about a team moving

The Portland Beavers attendance woes at then PGE Park led many to question the vitality of the sport in the city, but Mahalic said that situation was different than the newly proposed stadiums. These offerings have smaller footprints, and provide "intimate family experiences" at an affordable price, Mahalic said.

"The demographics certainly justify accommodating two minor league teams in the region," Mahalic said.

He insisted that there are "several hundred thousand baseball fans that adore the sport of baseball," in the Portland area.
The average cost for a family of four to attend a minor league game is $58, according to Minor League Baseball.

While Mahalic agrees with Lashbrook that Portland is a major league city, he said this is a moment to grab what's available.

"For the baseball fan, at this point in time, the Northwest League really is the best option for our city," he said.

The eight-team Northwest League would bring 38 home games to the area for each team, right in the heart of the summer months. The schedule runs from mid June through Labor Day, a point Mahalic said can't be undersestimated when factoring in attendance.

Adding two new stadiums within 25 miles of one another is a somewhat new phenomenon, according to Minor League officials, but some clubs in California play in close proximity.

Lashbrook, who lobbied the state in 1997 to build a major league park in Portland, argues minor and major league baseballs aren't mutally exclusive.

"If we had major league baseball those two teams could make it, too," he said, citing the success of the minor league St. Paul Saints and the Minnesota Twins of the MLB.

Lashbrook, reached while on business in Buffalo, population 261,000, pointed out that city is home to the Bills of the National Football League and Sabres of the National Hockey League. The passion in his voice is evident when talking about the city's support of the Timbers and Trail Blazers, as well as what that would mean for a new franchise.

"It just begs the question when is Portland going to wake up and do something?" Lashbrook asked.